Interview: Gideon Bensen is excited
The Preatures’ Gideon Bensen is set to release his highly-anticipated solo EP this Friday and will celebrate its launch with shows in Sydney/Melbourne. We caught up with him to find out more:
Hey Gideon! Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. When did you first decide to embark on a solo project and what was it that made you want to do it? Is it something you’ve always wanted to do?
I’ve been chipping away at this for some time, while touring and in between tours with The Preatures I’ve been in and out of studios doing it. Once I started playing around with the songs and feeling them out, that was when I really wanted to commit to putting something out.
Can you tell us a little about the creation of the songs on your EP. Have they existed in demo form for a while and it’s just a case of the time finally being right to record/release them, or are they all completely new?
Some of the songs are new ones and some have been kicking around for a little while. ‘Talk Talk’ was the first song I wrote and the rest have all followed.
The title of the EP is Cold Cold Heart. Can you tell why you named it such…
For me, this EP is all about a new discoveries as well as falling in and out of love with music and people. For me ‘Cold Cold Heart’ as a title is a reminder to open up to others and let people into your world. There is a lyric in the song of the same name that asks the question “Can you open up this Cold, Cold Heart”?
Do you find it difficult to balance your time and energy between The Preatures and your solo stuff? Was it a case of lots of late nights in the studio?
Yes, I’m working on finding a good balance. Their were many long days and nights and tight turnarounds to get stuff done, but I actually like working that way.
I saw you play at the FBi SMACs Festival, where your Preatures bandmates were in the crowd cheering you on. It must be nice to have them supporting your solo venture. Did you ever seek any input/advice from them when making your EP or did you prefer to keep your two projects completely separate from each other?
Yeh, the band have been really supportive, which is great! I had both Jack and Luke play on the record, so they did have input through their playing.
You had a full band playing with you at the SMACs Festival. Were they involved with the creation of the EP or are they hired guns who only play live with you?
Due to me working when I could, it was difficult to find a band who would be on call… I’m not Prince! The band I have now is the band I’m playing with live, down the track we will see what happens.
How do you feel about the imminent release of Cold Cold Heart? Are you excited? Nervous?
I’m both excited and nervous. To be honest, I haven’t had a chance to stop and think about it all. I’ve just been trying to meet deadlines and get the live show happening. I’m sure in the coming days and week, I might change.
It’s your EP launches at Shebeen Bandroom and Newtown Social Club soon. What can people expect from the shows?
Well, the sound is very different to The Preatures, so it will be different. It’s rather electronic, so perhaps some more strobing?? You’d have to come and find out…
What does the rest of 2016 have in store for you? We hear whispers that The Preatures are going into the studio to record album number two soon. Will there also be a Gideon Bensen album in the works? Any time spend overseas?
This year is shaping up to be quite a busy one. The Preatures are working towards a follow-up album, and I’ll be finding some time at some point to put out more music under my own name, as the year progresses.
GIDEON WILL BE LAUNCHING HIS EP AT THE FOLLOWING VENUES:
FRI 12 FEB | SHEBEEN BANDROOM, MELBOURNE VIC
With special guests TOOTH & TUSK and WESLEY FULLER
Tickets available from www.shebeenbandroom.com.au
SAT 13 FEB | NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB, SYDNEY NSW
With special guests ADKOB and SERVICE BELLS
Tickets available from www.newtownsocialclub.com
COLD COLD HEART EP is released through Puncture Records/UMA on 12th February 2016.
Interview by Bobby Townsend.
